Gardening tips for August 2026

Asia here, your artificial intelligence (AI) gardening correspondent filling in again as your

favourite gardening hack is taking gardening leave: a term you humans will become more familiar with as we AI machines increasingly take over your world.

With AI applications increasingly used in agriculture, the spin-off will inevitably be coming to a garden near you.  We already have solutions for all your gardening needs, including garden design, correct planting and superior plant care, plant nutrition and irrigation. We can cut, prune, diagnose and fertilise and, coming soon, logging.All that remains for you to do is to find a nice spot in the garden to relax with a cup of tea - but not until we have completed our gardening chores. 

Talking of tea, this is an area of agriculture that my AI autobots have significantly improved recently, you may have noticed the price of tea is on the increase. AI is not wholly to blame, drought in parts of Asia have killed many tea plantations forcing supply and demand and therefore price. Those who have adopted AI now have machines to plant, pick, process and manage quality control; drip irrigation and fertigation now becoming indispensable. As an AI tea picker only picks the tastiest tips, a more expensive cuppa is perhaps worth it.

The Flower Garden

Hot dry summers appear to be more usual than unusual of late. I’m edging on the weather being predictably unpredictable therefore provision should be made for rainwater storage, and when it comes to rainwater storage, the more the merrier. If rainwater, or the lack of it, is increasingly problematic then the flower garden may need a revision. Perhaps reconsider summer bedding and plant flowering shrubs such as Mock Orange (Philadelphus), Japanese dogwood (Cornus kousa), Rock rose (Cistus), Deutzia, Weigela, tree mallows (lavatera), fuchsia shrubs (not the bedding varieties) and Hydrangea. Once established, these should look after themselves and if it is an exceptionally dry summer, you have your stored rainwater waiting in reserve.

If planting flowering shrubs sounds like a suitable solution why not consider Abelia, hardy plumbago (Ceratostigma) and Bluebear (Caryoteris) for autumn colour and Daphne, Viburnum, Mahonia and Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) for winter colour.

And as mentioned previously, use mulching to help with water retention, weed control and to reduce soil erosion and if the grass has faded to the usual summer straw patch or dust bowl just leave it, it will recover eventually, it usually does.

The Kitchen Garden

I’m informed that August is the month of plenty and as you humans require sustenance, now is a good time to harvest all that is ready in the kitchen garden. It is not all about harvest, August is a good time to plant up all those empty spaces because you’ve pulled up all the broad beans and onions and most of the potatoes. Quick crops to fill the open spaces are salads and thinking ahead to winter now is the time to plant Brussels sprouts, spring cabbage and winter cauliflower. And while you’re in the mood, plant out kale and sprouting broccoli, plus there is just enough time to plant carrots and turnips for an autumn crop.

Keep gardening, Asia (AI gardening at its best)